Coastal Habitat Mapping Program. Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Data Summary Report September 2012

Transcription

1 Coastal Habitat Mapping Program Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Data Summary Report September 2012 Prepared for: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Region

2 On the Cover: Cape Lapin Kenmore Head False Pass Moffet Lagoon

3 CORI Project: September 2012 ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping Data Summary Report Southwest Alaska & Bristol Bay Survey Area Prepared for: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region Prepared by: COASTAL & OCEAN RESOURCES INC 759A Vanalman Ave., Victoria BC V8Z 3B8 Canada (250) ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD 525 Head Street, Victoria BC V9A 5S1 Canada (250)

4 September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 2

5 SUMMARY ShoreZone is a coastal habitat mapping and classification system in which georeferenced aerial imagery is collected specifically for the interpretation and integration of geological and biological features of the intertidal zone and nearshore environment. The mapping methodology is summarized in Harney et al (2008). This interim data summary report provides information on geomorphic and biological features of 1,083.5 km of shoreline mapped for the 2006 survey of Bristol Bay and the 2011 survey of Southwest Alaska. The habitat inventory is comprised of 1665 along-shore segments (units), averaging 651 m in length (note that the AK Coast 1:63,360 digital shoreline shows this mapping area encompassing 1,062.5 km, but mapping data based on better digital shorelines represent the same area with 1,083.5km stretching along the coast). Organic shorelines (such as estuaries) are mapped along 93.5 km (8.6%) of the study area. Bedrock shorelines (BC Classes 1-5) are extremely limited along the shoreline with only 1.2% mapped. A little more than three quarters (80%) of the mapped coastal environment is characterized as sediment-dominated shorelines (BC Classes 21-30). Of these, wide sand and gravel flats (BC Class 24) are the most common, mapped along 288 km of shoreline (26.5% of the total study area). Approximately 97% of all habitat classes mapped are structured by wave energy and another 3% is structured by estuarine processes. Repeatable assemblages of biota that can be recognized from the aerial imagery are termed biobands; 16 biobands have been mapped in Bristol Bay and southwest Alaska to date. Salt marshes, as represented by the PUC bioband are mapped along 38% of the shoreline. Eelgrass, as indexed by the ZOS bioband is relatively common and mapped along 40% of the shoreline in this mapping area (32% of the shoreline has continuous eelgrass). Man-modified shorelines (BC Classes 32 and 33) are comparatively rare (<1%). The most common types of shore modification observed are landfill and wooden bulkheads (0.4km and 0.3km respectively). Most anthropogenic features occur near the community of Port Moller. Mapping data can be accessed via the Alaska ShoreZone Mapping Website at: September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 3

6 September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 4

7 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION TITLE PREFACE Summary 3 Table of Contents 5 List of Tables 6 List of Figures 7 1 INTRODUCTION Overview of the ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping Program ShoreZone Mapping of Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska 10 2 PHYSICAL SHOREZONE DATA SUMMARY Shore Types Anthropogenic Shore Modifications Oil Residence Index (ORI) 21 3 BIOLOGICAL SHOREZONE DATA SUMMARY Biobands Biological Wave Exposure Bio Areas Habitat Class Habitat Class 40 4 REFERENCES 45 5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 47 APPENDIX A: DATA DICTIONARY 49 September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 5

8 LIST OF TABLES Table Description Page 2.1 Summary of Shore Types Summary of Shore Types by ESI Summary of Shore Modifications Summary of Oil Residence Index Bioband Abundances Mapped in Bristol Bay Bioband Abundances Mapped in Southwest Alaska Summary of Wave Exposure Summary of Habitat Classes 43 September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 6

9 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Description Page 1.1 Extent of ShoreZone imagery in Alaska, BC, and Washington Extent of ShoreZone imagery mapping in Alaska Extent of ShoreZone mapping in Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Map of study area in Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Map of the distribution of principal substrate types Relative abundance of principal substrate types Relative abundance of sediment shorelines Map of the distribution of sediment shorelines Map of the distribution of units with shore modifications Oil Residence Index (ORI) for shorelines in Bristol Bay Example of biobands in Bristol Bay Example of biobands in Southwest Alaska Bioband abundances in Bristol Bay Bioband abundances in Southwest Alaska Distribution of Dune Grass, Salt Marsh and Sedges Biobands Distribution of Eelgrass and Surfgrass Summary of wave exposure in Bristol Bay Summary of wave exposure in Southwest Alaska Distribution of wave exposure categories Distribution of bioareas Summary of habitat occurrence in Bristol Bay Summary of habitat occurrence in Southwest Alaska Distribution of Estuary Habitat Class. 44 September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 7

10 September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 8

11 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview of the ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping Program The land-sea interface is a crucial realm for terrestrial and marine organisms, human activities, and dynamic processes. ShoreZone is a mapping and classification system that specializes in the collection and interpretation of aerial imagery of the coastal environment. Its objective is to produce an integrated, searchable inventory of geomorphic and biological features of the intertidal and nearshore zones which can be used as a tool for science, education, management, and environmental hazard planning. ShoreZone imagery provides a useful baseline, while mapped resources (such as shoreline sediments, eelgrass and wetland distributions) are an important tool for scientists and managers. The ShoreZone system was employed in the 1980s and 1990s to map coastal features in British Columbia and Washington State (Howes 2001; Berry et al 2004). Between 2001 and 2003, ShoreZone imaging and mapping was initiated in the Gulf of Alaska, beginning with Cook Inlet, Outer Kenai, Katmai, and portions of the Kodiak Archipelago (Harper and Morris 2004). The ShoreZone program in Alaska continues to grow through the efforts of a network of partners, including scientists, managers, GIS specialists, and web specialists in federal, state, and local government agencies and in private and nonprofit organizations. The coastal mapping data and imagery are used for oil spill contingency planning, conservation planning, habitat research, development evaluation, mariculture site review, and recreation opportunities. Protocols and standards are updated through technological advancements (e.g. Harney et al 2008), and applications are developed that use ShoreZone data to examine modern questions regarding the coastal environment and nearshore habitats (Harney 2007, 2008). As of September 2012, mapped regions include close to 51,000 km of coastline Alaska and 40,000 km of coastline in British Columbia and Washington State (Figures 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3). The ShoreZone mapping system provides a spatial framework for coastal habitat assessment on local and regional scales. Research and practical applications of ShoreZone data and imagery include: natural resource and conservation planning environmental hazard response spill contingency planning linking habitat use and life-history strategy of nearshore fish and other intertidal organisms habitat suitability modeling (for example, to predict the spread of invasive species or the distribution of beaches appropriate for spawning fish September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 9

12 development evaluation and mariculture site review ground-truthing of aerial data on smaller spatial scales public use for recreation, education, outreach, and conservation Details concerning mapping methodology and the definition of 2008 standards are available in the ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping Protocol for the Gulf of Alaska (Harney et al 2008). This and other ShoreZone reports are available for download from the ShoreZone website at ShoreZone Mapping of Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Imagery The field surveys conducted in Bristol Bay and Southwest Alaska in 2006 and 2011 respectively, collected aerial video and digital still photographs of the coastal and nearshore zone during zero-meter tide levels and lower. The imagery and associated audio commentary are used to map the geomorphic and biological features of the shoreline according to the ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping Protocol (Harney et al 2008) with some updates for periglacial shorelines included in the DRAFT revision (Harper and Morris 2011). The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the physical (geomorphic) and biological data mapped in the study area to date (Figure 1.4). The along-shore length of shoreline mapped in the database is 1,083.5 kilometers in 1665 along-shore segments (units), averaging 651 m in length. Physical and biological data are summarized with illustrations in Sections 2 and 3, respectively. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 10

13 Figure 1.1. Extent of ShoreZone imagery in Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington State and Oregon (99,577 km). September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 11

14 Figure 1.2. Extent of ShoreZone imagery (59,853 km) and coastal habitat mapping in the State of Alaska (as of September 2012). September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 12

15 Figure 1.3. Extent of Bristol Bay ShoreZone mapping (2,020 km) & Southwest Alaska ShoreZone mapping (639 km) September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 13

16 Figure 1.4. Map of the study area imaged in Bristol Bay in 2006 & Southwest Alaska in 2011; physical (geomorphic) and biological ShoreZone data are summarized in this report (1,083.5 km). September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 14

17 2 PHYSICAL SHOREZONE DATA SUMMARY 2.1 Shore Types The principal characteristics of each along-shore segment are used to assign an overall unit classification or shore type that represents the unit as a whole. ShoreZone mapping employs two along-shore unit classification systems: coastal shore types defined for British Columbia ( BC Class ) and the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) class developed for oil-spill mitigation. A third shoreline classification system unique to ShoreZone ( Habitat Class ) is defined in Section 3.3. The BC Class system is used to describe along-shore coastal units as one of 39 shore types defined on the basis of the geomorphic features, substrate, sediment texture, across-shore width, and slope of that section of coastline (after Howes et al 1994; Appendix A, Table A-2 & Table A-3). Coastal classes also characterize units dominated by organic shorelines such as marshes and estuaries (BC Class 31), man-made features (BC Classes 32 and 33), high-current channels (BC Class 34), glaciers (BC Class 35), lagoons (BC Class 36), inundated tundra (BC Class 37), ground ice slumps (BC Class 38) and low vegetated peat (BC Class 39). The occurrence of BC shore types in the study area is listed in Table 2.1. Grouped BC Classes are useful to illustrate mapped distributions (Figure 2.1) and to summarize data in graphic form (Figure 2.2). Bedrock shorelines (BC Classes 1-5) comprise 12.7 km (1.2%) of mapped shorelines. Rock and sediment shorelines (BC Classes 6-20) comprise of 6.4%of the shoreline (69.7km). Sedimentdominated shorelines (BC Classes 21-30) comprise more than three quarters of the entire area (79.7%) along 863.5km of the coast (Figures 2.3 & 2.4). Of these, wide sand and gravel flats (BC Class 24) are the most common, mapped along 287.5km of shoreline (26.5% of the total study area). Organic and Lagoon shorelines constitute the remaining coast with 8.6% and 4.1% respectively. The NOAA Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI Class) is a shoreline classification system developed to categorize coastal regions on the basis of their oil-spill sensitivity. The ESI system uses wave exposure and principal substrate type to assign alongshore coastal units a ranking of 1-10 to indicate the relative degree of sensitivity to oil spills (1=least sensitive, 10=most sensitive) as well as a general shore type (Peterson et al 2002; Appendix A, Table A-4). The ESI system is an integral component of oil-spill contingency planning. Substrate permeability is of principal importance in estimating the residence time of oil on the shoreline, thus sediment texture is a key element in determining the ESI class. The occurrence of ESI shore types in the study area are listed in Table 2.2. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 15

18 Table 2.1. Summary of Shore Types by BC Class Sum of Substrate Shore Type (BC Class) Unit Type Length No. Description (km) Rock Rock & Sediment # of Units % Occurrence (by length) 1 Rock Ramp, wide Rock Platform, wide Rock Cliff Rock Ramp, narrow Rock Platform, narrow Ramp w gravel beach, narrow 7 Platform w gravel beach, wide 8 Cliff with gravel beach Ramp with gravel beach Platform with gravel beach Ramp w gravel & sand beach, 11 wide Platform with G&S beach, wide Cliff with gravel/sand beach Ramp with gravel/sand beach Cumulative Occurrence (%, km) 1.2% 12.7km 6.4% 69.8km Sediment 17 Platform w sand beach, wide Gravel flat, wide Gravel beach, narrow Sand & gravel flat or fan Sand & gravel beach, narrow Sand & gravel flat or fan Sand beach Sand flat Mudflat Sand beach % 863.5km Organics 31 Organics/Estuarine % 93.4km 39 Low Vegetated Peat Man-made 32 Man-made, permeable % (0.1km) Lagoon 36 Lagoon % 44km Totals: 1, , % *Note: Other BC Classes not observed. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 16

19 Figure 2.1. Map of the distribution of principal substrate types (on the basis of grouped BC Classes) in the study area. Data are listed by individual class and summarized by grouped classes in Table 2.1. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 17

20 Figure 2.2. Relative abundance of principal substrate types (on the basis of grouped BC Classes) in the study area. Data are summarized in Table 2.1. Figure 2.3. Relative abundance of sediment shorelines (BC classes 21-30) in the study area. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 18

21 Figure 2.4. Map of the distribution of sediment shorelines (BC Classes 21-30, grouped by geomorphology) in the study area. Data are summarized in Table 2.1. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 19

22 Table 2.2. Summary of Shore Types by ESI Class No. 1A 1C 2A Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Description Sum of Unit Length (km) # of Units % Occurrence (by length) Exposed rocky shores; Exposed rocky banks Exposed rocky cliffs with boulder talus base Exposed wave-cut platforms in bedrock, mud, or clay A Fine- to medium-grained sand beaches Coarse-grained sand beaches Mixed sand and gravel beaches A Gravel beaches (granules and pebbles) B Gravel beaches (cobbles and boulders) Exposed tidal flats A Sheltered scarps in bedrock, mud, or clay; sheltered rocky shores (impermeable) B Sheltered, solid, man-made structures; sheltered rocky shores (permeable) D Sheltered rocky rubble shores E Peat shorelines A Sheltered tidal flats B Vegetated low banks A Salt- and brackish-water marshes *Note: Other ESI Classes not observed. Totals: 1, , % September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 20

23 2.2 Anthropogenic Shore Modifications Shore-protection features and coastal access constructions such as seawalls, rip rap, docks, dikes, and wharves are enumerated in ShoreZone mapping data. Overall, shorelines classified as man-modified (having more than 50% of the unit altered by human activities, assigned BC Classes 32 and 33) occur along 1.4 km (0.1%) of shoreline in the study area, mostly near the community of Port Moller. The types of shore modification features (such as boat ramps, bulkheads, and rip rap) and their relative proportions of the intertidal zone are mapped into the database in the SHORE_MOD fields of the UNIT table (see Table A-1 for a description of these fields). The distribution of shore modifications mapped in the study area (Table 2.3) is shown in Figure 2.6. Table 2.3 Summary of Shore Modifications Shore Modification # of Occurrences Shoreline Length (km) % of Shoreline Wooden bulkhead % Boat ramp % Concrete bulkhead % Landfill % Sheet pile % Riprap % Totals: % 2.3 Oil Residence Index (ORI) The Oil Residence Index (ORI) is a rating between 1 and 5 that reflects the estimated persistence of spilled oil on a shoreline. A value of 1 reflects relatively short oil residence (days to weeks), while a value of 5 reflects potentially long oil residence times (months to years). An ORI value is applied to each across-shore component on the basis of sediment texture and wave exposure (Table A-6), as well as to each along-shore unit on the basis of shore type and wave exposure (Table A- 7). For more information on the assignment of this attribute, refer to the ShoreZone Protocol (Harney et al 2008). The dominance of lower wave exposures and sand-gravel sediment textures results in high Oil Residence Indices for most shore segments: 61% have an ORI of 4 or 5, indicating oil residence times are on the order of months to years (Table 2.4; Figure 2.7). September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 21

24 Figure 2.5. Map of the distribution of units in which shore modification features were observed in the study area. Data are summarized in Table 2.3. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 22

25 Table 2.4. Summary of Oil Residence Index Relative Persistence Oil Residence Index (ORI) Estimated temporal persistence Shoreline Length (km) Shoreline Length (%) Short 1 Days to weeks % 2 Weeks to months % Moderate 3 Weeks to months % 4 Months to years % Long 5 Months to years % Totals: 1, % September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 23

26 Figure 2.6. Oil Residence Index (ORI) for shorelines in Bristol Bay, based on substrate type and wave exposure (Appendix A, Table A-7). September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 24

27 3 BIOLOGICAL SHOREZONE DATA SUMMARY Biological ShoreZone mapping is based on the observation of patterns of biota in the coastal zone, with data recorded on the occurrence and extent of species assemblages (called biobands). The observations of presence, absence and relative distribution of the biobands are recorded in the mapping within each alongshore unit, based on those observations, an interpreted classification of biological wave exposure and habitat class is assigned. In the Bristol Bay portion of the reporting area, most of the shoreline is composed of mobile sediment beaches and there are no intertidal biobands. On the southwest Alaska Peninsula, the intertidal diverse and intertidal epibenthic biobands were observed in most of the units mapped. For the Alaska Peninsula units, the exposure category was assigned from the observed biobands. In units which showed no attached biota, the biological mappers assigned the wave exposure category which had been classified by the physical Mappers (EXP_OBSER). Because the regional characteristics of the biota are so different between these two sections of the project area, the mapped biological attributes have been summarized separately for the Bristol Bay and for the southwest Alaska Peninsula/Cold Bay sections. 3.1 Biobands A bioband is an observed assemblage of coastal biota, found on the shoreline at characteristic wave energies, substrate conditions and typical across-shore elevations. Biobands are spatially distinct, with alongshore and across-shore patterns of color and texture that are visible in aerial imagery (Figures 3.1 and 3.2). Biobands are described across the shore, from the high supratidal to the shallow nearshore subtidal and are named for the dominant species or group that best represents the entire bioband. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 25

28 Figure 3.1. Example of supratidal Dune Grass bioband (GRA), with Salt Marsh (PUC) and Eelgrass (ZOS) in the subtidal, in Bristol Bay, near Cape Rozhnof, Mud Bay (photo BB06_HA_1199.jpg). Figure 3.2. Example of supratidal Dune Grass bioband (GRA), with Barnacles (BAR), Rockweed (FUC), Green Algae (ULV), and Dragon Kelp (ALF) in the nearshore subtidal, near Littlejohn Lagoon, west of Cold Bay in Morzhovoi Bay (photo SW11_CB_00693.jpg). September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 26

29 Some biobands are named for a single indicator species (such as the Blue Mussel bioband (BMU)), while others represent an assemblage of co-occurring species (such as the Red Algae bioband (RED)). Indicator species are the species that are most commonly observed in the band. For descriptions of all the biobands in mapping throughout Alaska, including lists of indicator and associate species, refer to Appendix A, Table A-18. The distribution of the each bioband observed in every unit is recorded in the database. Bioband occurrence is recorded as patchy or continuous for all biobands except for the Splash Zone bioband (VER), which is recorded from an estimate of the across-shore width (narrow, medium or wide). A distribution of patchy is defined as visible in less than half (approximately 25-50%) of the along-shore unit length and continuous is defined as visible in more than half (50-100%) of the unit s alongshore length. Refer to Appendix A, Table A-19 for definitions for bioband occurrence. Bristol Bay portion of the project area The occurrence of each bioband mapped in the Bristol Bay project area covered by this summary report is summarized in Table 3.1 and Figure 3.3. Dune Grass (GRA) was the most commonly mapped bioband, with 94% of the coast having either patchy or continuous GRA recorded. Salt Marsh (PUC) bioband was the next most commonly mapped band as either patchy or continuous on 38% of the shoreline. Eelgrass (ZOS) was the most abundant subtidal bioband mapped with 40% of the coast having either patchy or continuous ZOS recorded. Only small amounts of biobands associated with stable substrate (Barnacle, Rockweed, Green Algae, Blue Mussels, and Red Algae) were observed in Bristol Bay (Table 3.1 and Figure 3.3). Less than 1% of the area mapped had nearshore canopy kelps, Bull Kelp and Dragon Kelp. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 27

30 Table 3.1. Bioband Abundances Mapped in Bristol Bay Project Area. Bioband Continuous Patchy Name Code (km) % (km) % Total (km) % of Mapped Tundra TUN 2 < <1 Dune Grass GRA Sedges SED Salt Marsh PUC Barnacle BAR Rockweed FUC Green Algae ULV Blue Mussel BMU Red Algae RED Bleached Red Algae HAL Alaria ALA <1 1 <1 Soft Brown Kelp SBR Dark Brown Kelp CHB <1 1 <1 Dragon Kelp ALF 1 <1 <1 <1 2 <1 Bull Kelp NER 1 < <1 Eelgrass ZOS Figure 3.3. Bioband abundances mapped in Bristol Bay project area. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 28

31 Southwest Alaska Peninsula portion of the project area The occurrence of biobands mapped in the portion of the project area that is within the new southwest Alaska bioarea (SWAK), imaged during the 2011 Cold Bay survey, are summarized in Table 3.2 and Figure 3.4. Dune Grass (GRA) was the most commonly mapped bioband, with 85% of the coast having either patchy or continuous GRA recorded. Rockweed (FUC) bioband was the next most commonly mapped band as either patchy or continuous on 53% of the shoreline. Unlike in Bristol Bay area, a significant portion of the shoreline mapped had biobands associated with stable substrate (Barnacle, Rockweed, Green Algae, Blue Mussels, Red Algae, Bleached Red Algae, Alaria, Soft Brown Kelps, and Dark Brown Kelps). Nearshore canopy kelp was mostly Dragon Kelp, which was observed on 42% of the project area mapped so far. A small amount of Bull Kelp (4% of the project area) was also observed. Table 3.2. Bioband Abundances in Southwest Alaska Peninsula Area. Bioband Continuous Patchy Name Code (km) % (km) % Total (km) % of Mapped Dune Grass GRA Salt Marsh PUC Barnacle BAR Rockweed FUC Green Algae ULV Blue Mussel BMU Red Algae RED Bleached Red Algae HAL Alaria ALA Soft Brown Kelps SBR Dark Brown Kelps CHB Dragon Kelp ALF Bull Kelp NER Surfgrass SUR Eelgrass ZOS September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 29

32 Figure 3.4. Bioband abundances mapped in southwest Alaska Peninsula project area. Bioband Distributions Combinations of the various biobands are used to indicate different biological wave exposures and habitat classes. The distributions of examples of bioband combinations observed in the project area mapping are described below. Dune Grass, Sedges and Salt Marsh Biobands The three biobands that can occur in the supratidal (A zone) used to indicate salt marsh and estuarine conditions are the Dune Grass (GRA), Sedges (SED) and Salt Marsh (PUC) biobands. Each of these three biobands is dominated by rooted vascular plants, with the Salt Marsh bioband having the most diversity in species composition, including a number of salt-tolerant grasses, herbs and sedges. Further descriptions of the characteristics of these biobands can be found in Appendix A, Table A-18. Co-occurrence of these three bands, together with the presence of a freshwater stream (year-round flow) and a delta form at the stream mouth are used to indicate an Estuary habitat class category. Usually, shorelines where all three biobands cooccur are the areas with the largest estuary salt marsh complexes, which are often found at river deltas and at the heads of inlets. Smaller estuarine features are often indicated when the Dune Grass (GRA) and the Salt Marsh (PUC) bands co-occur. The Dune Grass bioband is often observed growing on its own, in dry beach berms or among driftwood log lines, and occurs at all wave exposures, from high energy bare beaches, to sheltered salt meadows. The following combinations are shown in Figure 3.5. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 30

33 Dune Grass (GRA) alone: showing where fringing dune grass is observed (not necessarily associated with wetlands). Dune Grass (GRA) and Salt Marsh (PUC) occurring together: often showing locations of smaller areas of estuarine conditions. All three bands occurring together, Dune Grass (GRA), Salt Marsh (PUC) and Sedges (SED): showing larger estuarine areas, including stream and river mouths. Nearly all of the Bristol Bay and southwest Alaska, Cold Bay survey shoreline in this study area was mapped with at least one of these three biobands present. Eelgrass and Surfgrass Biobands Eelgrass (ZOS) is found in fine sediments in estuaries, lagoons or channels and more protected wave exposures. Surfgrass (SUR) is found in increasing wave exposures along rocky intertidal shores, and is often observed on wide across shore rock platforms where wave energy is dissipated by wave run-up across the broad intertidal zone. The two biobands rarely occur together in the Bristol Bay and southwest Alaska - Cold Bay study area. Distribution of Eelgrass and Surfgrass biobands mapped in the study area are shown in Figure 3.6. Further descriptions of the characteristics of these biobands can be found in Appendix A, Table A-18. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 31

34 Figure 3.5. Distribution of units in which select combinations of the Dune Grass, Salt Marsh and Sedges biobands were observed in the Bristol Bay and southwest Alaska project areas. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 32

35 Figure 3.6. Distribution of units where the Eelgrass and Surfgrass biobands were observed in the Bristol Bay and southwest Alaska project areas. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 33

36 3.2 Biological Wave Exposure Biological wave exposure categories range from Very Protected (VP) to Very Exposed (VE) and are usually defined in ShoreZone on the basis of a typical set of biobands. When present, the observation and relative abundance of biota in each alongshore unit is used to determine the classification for the biological wave exposure. The assemblages of biota observed are then used as a proxy for the energy conditions at that site. The six biological wave exposure categories are the same as those used in the physical mapping (Appendix A, Tables A-5 and A-10). In Bristol Bay and mobile beaches of the southwest Alaska Peninsula area classified for this project, attached intertidal and nearshore biobands are more commonly absent than present. In the absence of attached biota, the physical mappers estimate of wave energy (EXP_OBSER) was deemed to be equivalent to the biological wave exposure. The physical wave exposure is based on fetch window estimates and coastal geomorphology. The physical wave exposure, as transcribed to the biological exposure attribute for units without attached biota, was also then used in the look up matrix for determining the Oil Residence Index (ORI) (Table A-7). Species assemblages used as indicators of wave energy categories for shoreline with biota in the Alaska Peninsula region and elsewhere in Alaska ShoreZone are listed in Appendix A Table A-11. For more information about biobands, biological wave exposure, habitat class definitions and examples from other bioareas in Alaska, see data summary reports for Southeast Alaska and the current ShoreZone protocols. These reports are available for download from the ShoreZone website at Bristol Bay Portion of the Project Area The occurrence of the wave exposure categories mapped in the Bristol Bay portion of the study area is summarized in Table 3.3 and in Figure 3.7. Most of the shoreline in the study area was classified with a wave exposure of Semi-Protected (SP) or lower (75%). Twenty-two percent of the area was mapped as Exposed (E) and 3% was mapped in the Semi-Exposed (SE) category. A summary map of the biological wave exposure categories distribution is shown in Figure 3.9. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 34

37 Southwest Alaska Peninsula portion of the project area The occurrence of the wave exposure categories mapped in the southwest Alaska Peninsula portion of the project is summarized in Table 3.3 and in Figure 3.8. Most of the shoreline in the study area was classified with a wave exposure of Semi-Protected (SP) or lower (54%). Forty-three percent of the area was mapped as Semi-Exposed (SE) and 3% was mapped in the Exposed (E) category. Table 3.3. Summary of Wave Exposure in Bristol Bay and Alaska Peninsula Wave Exposure Bristol Bay SW Alaska Peninsula, Cold Bay Name Code Shoreline % of Shoreline % of Length (km) Shoreline Length (km) Shoreline Exposed E Semi-Exposed SE Semi-Protected SP Protected P Very Protected VP Totals Figure 3.7. Summary of wave exposures mapped in the Bristol Bay study area. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 35

38 Figure 3.8. Summary of wave exposures mapped in the Alaska Peninsula study area. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 36

39 Figure 3.9. Distribution of wave exposure categories mapped in the Bristol Bay and Alaska Peninsula project area. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 37

40 3.3 BioAreas As ShoreZone biological mapping has been completed throughout Alaska, differences in the species assemblages that characterize the coastal habitats have been observed on a broad geographic scale. Differences in biota are the most obvious in the lower intertidal and nearshore subtidal biobands. To recognize region-specific species assemblages, as well as to identify broad-scale trends in coastal habitats, a number of bioareas have been defined in Alaska (Figure 3.10 and Appendix A, Table A-9). A similar approach was applied in British Columbia to recognize the broad-scale eco-regional differences and seven bioareas have been defined there for the ShoreZone mapping. Bioareas are delineated on the basis of observed differences in the distribution of lower intertidal biota, nearshore canopy kelps, and coastal habitat classification. For example, the outer coast Southeast Alaska Sitka bioarea has a full range of wave exposures, dense nearshore canopy kelps and a diverse array of coastal morphologies. The Bristol Bay bioarea is characterized by broad mobile bare sediment beaches, numerous broad estuary flats, and near continuous biobands of Dune Grass (GRA) and Salt Marsh (PUC) in the supratidal. In the Cold Bay area of the Alaska Peninsula, high energy rock cliffs and platforms are present, along with mobile sand beaches and backshore lagoons. Dragon Kelp is the dominant canopy kelp present on higher energy shores. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 38

41 Figure Bioareas identified in coastal Alaska ShoreZone mapping to date. Bioareas are delineated on the basis of observed regional differences in the distribution of biota and coastal geomorphology. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 39

42 3.4 Habitat Class Habitat Class is a summary classification that combines both physical and biological characteristics observed for a particular shoreline unit. The classification is based on biological wave exposure and geomorphic characteristics. The habitat class category is intended to provide a single attribute to summarize the biophysical features of the unit, based on an overall classification made from the detailed attributes that have been mapped. In the Bristol Bay and the Alaska Peninsula study areas, the habitat class is determined from the biological wave exposure or from the physical wave exposure category on bare sediment beaches. The wave exposure category determined, in combination with the dominant structuring process and geomorphic features of the site are used to assign the unit s Habitat Class. Wave energy is the most common structuring process, and less commonly observed habitats are those structured by current, estuarine/fluvial processes or anthropogenic structures. In wave energy-structured habitat classes, the combination of wave exposure and substrate type determines the degree of substrate mobility, which in turn determines the presence and abundance of attached biota. Where the substrate is mobile, biota is sparse or absent, and where the substrate is stable, epibenthic biota can be abundant. The three categories of wave energy-structured habitat classes, based on substrate mobility, are as follows: Immobile or stable substrates, such as bedrock or large boulders, enabling a well-developed epibenthic assemblage to form; Partially Mobile mixed substrates such as a rock platform with a beach or sediment veneer where the development of a full bioband assemblage is limited by the partial mobility of the sediments; Mobile substrates such as sandy beaches where coastal energy levels are sufficient to frequently move sediment, thereby limiting the development of epibenthic biota. Habitat classes determined by dominant structuring processes other than wave energy have limited occurrence along the coast and, except for the anthropogenic shorelines, are often highly valued habitats. These habitat classes are: Estuary complexes, with freshwater stream flow, delta form at the stream mouth and fringing wetland biobands including Salt Marsh (PUC), Dune Grass (GRA) and often Sedges (SED); Current-Dominated channels where high tidal currents support assemblages of biota typical of higher energy sites than would be found at the site if wave energy was the structuring process (these units are usually associated with lower wave exposure conditions in adjacent shore units); September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 40

43 Glacier ice, where saltwater glaciers form the intertidal habitat; Anthropogenic features where the shoreline has undergone human modification (e.g., areas of rip rap or fill, marinas and landings), excluding archaeological sites; Lagoons, which have enclosed coastal ponds of brackish or salty water (note that Lagoons in the biological classification are mapped only as a secondary habitat class, see Table A-12 for further definition of secondary habitat class). Further descriptions and definitions of the habitat class categories are presented in Appendix A, Tables A-12 and A-13. Bristol Bay Portion of the Project Area The occurrences of habitat class categories are summarized in Figure 3.11 and Table 3.4. Approximately 94% of all habitat class categories mapped are structured by wave energy, mostly in the mobile classes. Of the non-wave energy structured habitats, the Estuary habitat is one of the most often observed, and accounts for 5% of the shoreline mapped in Bristol Bay. The least common habitat class categories are those that are structured by current energy or are anthropogenic. Each of these classes account for approximately 1% or less of the shoreline mapped. Approximately 58% of the shoreline mapped has a mobile habitat class which generally shows units which are mostly bare of attached intertidal biota. Southwest Alaska Peninsula Portion of the Project Area The occurrences of habitat class categories are summarized in Figure 3.12 and Table 3.4. Approximately all of habitat class categories mapped are structured by wave energy. Of the non-wave energy structured habitats, the Estuary habitat is one of the most often observed, and accounts for 1% of the shoreline mapped in Cold Bay. The least common habitat class category is anthropogenic with less than 1% along the coast. The extent of Estuary habitat class mapped in Bristol Bay and southwest Alaska is shown in Figure September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 41

44 Figure Summary of Habitat Class categories mapped in the Bristol Bay study area. Figure Summary of habitat class categories mapped in the SW Alaska study area. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 42

45 Table 3.4. Summary of Occurrence of Habitat Classes Dominant Structuring Process Wave Energy Exposure Category Exposed (E) Semiexposed (SE) Semiprotected (SP) Protected (P) Habitat Class Substrate Mobility Immobile & Partially Mobile Immobile & Partially Mobile Immobile & Partially Mobile Partially Mobile Bristol Bay area Length (km) % of Mapping SW Alaska Peninsula, Cold Bay Length (km) % of Mapping E, SE, SP, P Mobile Fluvial/Estuarine processes Estuary Current energy Current dominated Man-modified Anthropogenic 1 <1 0 0 Lagoon * Lagoon * Lagoons are classified as secondary habitat class Appendix A, Table A 12. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 43

46 Figure Distribution of Estuary habitat class category mapped in the Bristol Bay and Southwest Alaska Peninsula project areas. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 44

47 4 REFERENCES Berry, H.D., Harper, J.R., Mumford, T.F., Jr., Bookheim, B.E., Sewell, A.T., and Tamayo, L.J Washington State ShoreZone Inventory User s Manual, Summary of Findings, and Data Dictionary. Reports prepared for the Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources Nearshore Habitat Program. Habitats/Pages/aqr_nrsh_inventory_projects.aspx Harney, J.N Modeling Habitat Capability for the Non-Native European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) Using the ShoreZone Mapping System in Southeast Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington State. Report prepared for NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (Juneau, AK). 75 p. Harney, J.N Evaluation of a Habitat Suitability Model for the Invasive European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) Using Species Occurrence Data from Western Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Report prepared for NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (Juneau, AK). 51 p. Harney, J.N., Morris, M., and Harper, J.R ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping Protocol for the Gulf of Alaska. Report prepared for The Nature Conservancy, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Alaska State Department of Natural Resources (Juneau, AK). 153 p. Harper, J.R., and Morris, M.C ShoreZone Mapping Protocol for the Gulf of Alaska. Report prepared for the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council (Anchorage, AK). 61 p. Harper, J.R. and M.C. Morris 2011 (DRAFT). Alaska ShoreZone coastal habitat mapping protocol. Contract Report by Nuka Research and Planning LCC of Seldovia, Alaska for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Anchorage, AK, 144 p. Howes, D., Harper, J.R., and Owens, E.H Physical Shore-Zone Mapping System for British Columbia. Report prepared by Environmental Emergency Services, Ministry of Environment (Victoria, BC), Coastal and Ocean Resources Inc. (Sidney, BC), and Owens Coastal Consultants (Bainbridge, WA). 71 p. Howes, D.E British Columbia biophysical ShoreZone mapping system a systematic approach to characterize coastal habitats in the Pacific Northwest. Puget Sound Research Conference, Seattle, Washington, Paper 3a, 11p. Petersen, J., J. Michel, S. Zengel, M. White, C. Lord, C. Plank Environmental Sensitivity Index Guidelines. Version 3.0. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS OR&R 11. Hazardous Materials Response Division, Office of Response and Restoration, NOAA Ocean Service, Seattle, Washington p + App. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 45

48 September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 46

49 5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The ShoreZone program is a partnership of scientists, GIS specialists, web specialists, non-profit organizations, and governmental agencies. We gratefully acknowledge the support of organizations working in partnership for the Alaska ShoreZone effort, including: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Archipelago Marine Research Ltd., Coastal and Ocean Resources Inc., Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, National Park Service, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council, The Nature Conservancy, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the University of Alaska and the US Forest Service. We also thank the staff of Coastal and Ocean Resources Inc. and Archipelago Marine Research Ltd. for their efforts in the field and in the office. Protocols for data access and distribution are established by the program partner agencies. Please see for a list of partner agencies and related web sites. Video imagery can be viewed and digital stills downloaded online at Any hardcopies or published data sets utilizing ShoreZone products shall clearly indicate their source. To ensure distribution of the most current public information or for correct interpretation, contact the ShoreZone project manager at Coastal and Ocean Resources, Inc. At the time of publication, that person is Dr. John Harper. September 2012 Bristol Bay & Southwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 47

50 Appendix A

51 APPENDIX A DATA DICTIONARY Table Description A-1 Definitions for fields and attributes in the UNIT table. A-2 Definitions of the BC_CLASS attribute, in the UNIT table. (after Howes et al [1994] BC Class in British Columbia ShoreZone) A-3 Shore Types Associated with Structuring Processes Other than Wave Action. A-4 Definitions of the ESI (Environmental Sensitivity Index) attribute, from the UNIT table (after Peterson et al [2002]). A-5 Definitions for estimating the OBSERVED PHYSICAL EXPOSURE attribute, (EXP_OBSER) in the UNIT table. A-6 Definition of the OIL RESIDENCE INDEX (ORI) attribute in the UNIT table. A-7 OIL RESIDENCE INDEX (ORI) Component lookup matrix based on exposure (columns) and substrate type (rows). A-8 Definitions of the attributes in the BIOUNIT table. A-9 Definitions of the BIOAREA attribute in BIOUNIT table. A-10 List of the BIOLOGICAL WAVE EXPOSURE codes, in BIOUNIT table. A-11 Definitions of BIOLOGICAL WAVE EXPOSURES, by bioband, and by indicator and associate species assemblages (EXP_BIO attribute in BIOUNIT table). A-12 Expanded descriptions for HABITAT CLASS, SECONDARY HABITAT CLASS, and RIPARIAN fields of the BIOUNIT table. A-13 Codes for HABITAT CLASS and SECONDARY HABITAT CLASS attributes, in the BIOUNIT table. A-14 Definitions of fields and attributes in the XSHR (Across-shore) component table (after Howes et al 1994). A-15 Definitions of FORM attributes, in XSHR (Across-shore) table (after Howes et al 1994). A-16 Definitions of the MATERIALS attributes, in XSHR (Across-shore) table. (after Howes et al 1994). A-17 Definitions for fields in the BIOBAND table. A-18 Definitions for BIOBAND attribute for Southeast Alaska, in BIOBAND table. A-19 Definitions for Occurrences of Biobands, in the BIOBAND table. A-20 Definitions for fields in the PHOTOS table. Appendix A

52 Appendix A

53 Table A-1. Definitions for Fields and Attributes in the UNIT table. Field Name UnitRecID PHY_IDENT REGION AREAS PHY_UNIT SUBUNIT TYPE BC_CLASS ESI LENGTH_M GEO_MAPPER GEO_EDITOR VIDEOTAPE HR MIN SEC EXP_OBSER [continued] Description Unit Record ID: An automatically-generated number field; the database primary key for unit-level relationships Physical Ident is a unique code to identify each unit, assigned by physical mapper; defined as an alphanumeric string determined by the codes for: Region, Area, Unit, and Subunit separated by slashes (e.g. 12/03/0552/0), where 12 is Region 12, 03 is Area 3, 0552 is the Unit number, and 0 is the Subunit number. Region: assigned during mapping, makes up first two digits of the PHY_IDENT. (See PHY_IDENT description for example.) Area: assigned during mapping, makes up the third and fourth digits of the PHY_IDENT. (See PHY_IDENT description for example.) Unit: Four digit along-shore unit number; assigned during mapping, unique within Region/Area mapping section. (See PHY_IDENT description for example.) Subunit: assigned during mapping, is 0 for unit line features. Subunit field is used to identify Point features (if any, also called Variants ) within Units, and are numbered sequentially (1, 2, 3 ) according to the order occurring within the unit. (See PHY_IDENT description for example.) Unit Type: A single-letter description for Unit as either: a (L)ine (linear unit) or (P)oint feature (variant). Related to SUBUNIT attribute, where each numbered SUBUNIT variant would be TYPE P BC Coastal Class: Code number for Coastal Class classification for the unit. Definitions of codes in Table A-2. Determined by the Physical mapper and based on: overall substrate type, sediment size (if sediment is present), across-shore width, and across-shore slope for the unit; derived from the Howes et al (1994) Environmental Sensitivity Index Classification for the shore unit, using unitwide interpretation of ESI. Definitions in Table A-4, after Peterson et al [2002]. Unit Length: Along-shore unit high waterline, in meters; calculated in ArcGIS, from digitized shoreline Physical Mapper Name: Last name of the physical mapper Physical Mapper Reviewer: Last name of the physical mapper who QA/QCs the work (10% of all units are reviewed by a different Physical mapper than did original mapping) Videotape Name: Unique code for title of the videotape used for mapping; Naming convention example is SE07_SO_08, where first four characters identify the main survey region and year, (where SE07 is Southeast Alaska 2007 ), two letter code for survey team (where SO is Sockeye ) and two digit code 08 is for consecutively numbered tape. Hour: From the first two digits of the 6-digit UTC time burned on video image, identifying video frame at which the unit starts; with the unit start frame at center of viewing screen Minute: From the third and fourth digits of the 6-digit UTC time burned on video image at which unit starts; with the unit start frame at center of viewing screen Seconds: From the last two digits of the 6-digit UTC time burned on video image at which unit starts; with the unit start frame at center of viewing screen Physical wave exposure: Estimate of wave exposure as observed by the physical mapper, estimated from observed fetch and coastal processes; categories listed in Table A-5. A-1